Super Dust Deputy and HF Dust Collector Upgrade

So there have been quite a few dust collector projects posted on here, but wanted to do a quick share of mine since I was so pleased with how it turned out. I started with the traditional dust collector from Harbor Freight that I got a little over a year ago. I was tired of still having the dust fly everywhere when using it so I decided to upgrade it. First, I replaced inlet to the motor from 5” to 6” to pull in as much air as possible. I didn’t replace the fan as others have done on theirs, but I’ll just be moving mine from machine to machine, so I don’t have tons of pipe to go through or anything. I also added the Super Dust Deputy and a nice collection bucket below (Got from eBay, very pleased!) The filter I had for awhile and added a screw-on bucket lid from Home Deport to make the collection of residual dust very easy as well.

The last thing I will be adding, but am waiting for the slow boat from China to deliver, is a dust collector bin level sensor. I found the video on youtube am looking forward to add it!

Thanks for the comments and looking. Let’s keep that dust contained!

UPDATE: I finished the sensor addition and added the pictures. ALso explained the images below in the comments.

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21 comments so far

That came out really nice!I have the same bin on mine. Seems to work well and it will never get so heavy that I can’t lift it.Please report back and let us know how it is doing and any other mods you make.

Only suggestion I can make is to keep an eye on your SDD collector’s level.

Untill I put a peek-a-boo- window into mine (unless of course you have one on yours), the only way I found out it was full is when my plastic bags started filling up… kinda defeated the purpose. It took two half filled plastic bags before I got of my rrrs… since then (5 years of abuse) I’ve never had to change a bag, or even come close. I still haven’t had to empty teh bags and even though they started filling up, since the window, the levels in the bags haven’t risen.

-- If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

Not being rude d’m’, you could always put the dusty outside. The chips will still be there for chook comfort, but in one neat pile/bin. Get two drums and they can nest in the full one.

..... adding the dust bin sensor….. - Chad

Thanks Chad (and the rest) for making me aware of the proprietary sensor… they are not available in Australia and while my government have got on the bad side of Amazon (their new GST policy precludes Australian shipment), hopefully it will be in the mail soon through some nefarious manipulation.

-- If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

Not being rude d m , you could always put the dusty outside. The chips will still be there for chook comfort, but in one neat pile/bin. Get two drums and they can nest in the full one.

..... adding the dust bin sensor….. - Chad

Thanks Chad (and the rest) for making me aware of the proprietary sensor… they are not available in Australia and while my government have got on the bad side of Amazon (their new GST policy precludes Australian shipment), hopefully it will be in the mail soon through some nefarious manipulation.

- LittleBlackDuck

You can get the sensor from eBay, which hopefully is a way around Amazon’s restriction to Australia. I have a separate post dedicated to making the sensor (like where I learned it from) and where the parts are located (some amazon, but those parts should be easier to come by than the sensor. THe parts list is towards the bottom of the thread), if anyone needs it. http://lumberjocks.com/topics/267185

Maybe I’m being dense here (haven’t looked your sensor yet either), but what’s wrong with a little window and an LED light inside about 1/4 way down? Look in the window – even if it’s dusty if you see the light, you’re good.

Maybe I m being dense here (haven t looked your sensor yet either), but what s wrong with a little window and an LED light inside about 1/4 way down? Look in the window – even if it s dusty if you see the light, you re good.

That s what I m planning to do for mine.

-Paul

- Ocelot

Nothing, but adding a window that curves with your dust bin, secured, air-tight, and can withstand the pressure of your system has seem to be a difficult task from several I’ve seen installed. You still need a power source for the LED light, so this sensor system is much easier to build and install, IMO. It was the least problematic from my DC overhaul. Maybe others have had an easier time installing the window; I don’t know.

Nothing, but adding a window that curves with your dust bin, secured, air-tight, and can withstand the pressure of your system has seem to be a difficult task from several I ve seen installed…. - Rayne

Speaking from experience, for exactly those reasons you mentioned Rayne, I kept the window “relatively small” and heat bent the perspex to the contour of the drum, drilled and riveted in place and sealed with silicon (best invention since sliced bread… but it sticks to your teeth). Did the job well… well?.

Unfortunately when you are full on, at a jointer or thicknesser, the bin fills up in reverse proportion to my wallet… quicker than I can say but I only emptied it yesterday. Once full it keeps it’s mouth shut… I can easily check (though at times the window gets lined with dust but a tap [with the finger not water] will remove it), however, how many times has the missus told you to do something… probably 100 times more than I remember checking the window. For once I ‘m not blaming Alzhi’ for this, just my enthusiasm for uninterrupted woodworking

I figure it would take me quite a few hours designing, resourcing and building a shop made dusty alarm. With a realistic nominal hourly rate for my time, I realised it was more economical for me to resource the proprietary item (from Oneida specifically designed for the DD), ship it to a US address who in turn will ship to me… all up, quite cheaper if I cost my time. In the meantime I can do some other productive work which (if I charged) could make me money.

All BS aside, I haven’t the smarts to engineer electronics and while plans and “how to’s” are readily available on the Internet, all parts may not be. While I’m ferret around for alternatives, with my time costs, the cash register just keeps ticking over with a loud kerching with ever passing hour..

-- If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD